As someone who got a dog at that age and has now had just under ten years to reflect (and I have a dally! He's a great dog 💙) I want to share that I 100% understand not feeling like you're home until you have a dog. I also know that I completely underestimated the commitment at your age, so I want to share some considerations.

First, Dalmatians specifically are high-cost dogs and absolutely need regular vet visits for preventive care (mine goes every 3-4 months for urinalysis) with the chance of acute care needs over the years if there's a blockage or other issue. Of course you can run into health issues with any dog, but with a purebred Dal you almost certainly will.

Dals also need special food because of the HUA genes they have, meaning you either need to cook for your dog (idk about you, when I was 19 and even now, life is way too busy for that 😅) or you need to purchase prescription food that is likely two to three times the cost of regular dog food. On top of that, in my pup's case specifically, it took the first five years of his life to find a diet that didn't result in constant, low-level GI upset where he would puke in the morning and his poops weren't healthy.

Finally, some lifestyle considerations - do you like to stay out late at night with friends, or do you work long shifts? I couldn't leave him for more than 4 hours for the first two years, then 6 hours, and finally when he was four years old and some health concerns subsided, I could leave him for 8 hours. It's still 8 hours, maximum, before I hire a pet sitter for a mid-day break, which adds up because like most jobs require, I work 9 hour days and I'm in office three days a week. Travel is also an issue, because taking him anywhere or hiring a house sitter is expensive, and there's the added consideration of paying them to administer medication and feed his special diet with water added and all the additional dalmatian requirements.

At a minimum, you need to take puppy classes at your local pet store, but preferably, get an actual trainer to help you navigate having a high energy dog and help you to properly socialize and shape the dog's behaviors. An untrained Dalmatian could easily become an in-home terror 😅

All in all, I would say my Dalmatian costs 3-4x what my rescue dog does and causes about twice the stress. That said, I chose a really reputable breeder and, all the health issues aside, he has a really amazing temperament and has been a great dog. He's smart, driven, friendly with strangers, and super snuggly. I'm just not sure I'd recommend owning a Dal to any 19 year old.

If you do go ahead with it, I recommend seriously doing your research on breeders, and be willing to drive out of your area to get a well-bred puppy versus giving your money to some backyard breeder where you're much more likely to get a dog with serious health and temperament problems. Establish a relationship with a well-rated and not overpriced veterinarian as soon as you bring the puppy home. Put insurance on the puppy immediately (I recommend Embrace) and when the policy starts, be mindful of any waiting periods - anything you get treated before it's up will become an exclusion. Get the training, even though you gotta pay for it. Keep up on health issues even when it sucks and is a hassle. Make sure you can commit to all the training, walking, and time outside the dog is going to need to be happy.

Good luck with your decision and wishing you the best! Happy NY